House Bill 463 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris SellsRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Catfish; transfer out of state of those harvested in public waters prohibited; criminal penalties for violations established

Summary

HB463 would prohibit exporting live catfish harvested from Alabama public waters out of state and set penalties for violations, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

It adds a rule that no one may transport a live catfish harvested from Alabama public waters out of the state. Violations carry escalating penalties: a first offense is a Class B misdemeanor with at least a $1,000 fine; a second or later offense is a Class A misdemeanor with at least a $2,000 fine. The bill also tweaks existing law about transporting other game fish beyond state lines and the creel-limit rule for personal use. It becomes effective October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who fish for catfish in Alabama public waters and may transport or export those catfish out of state (they could face penalties for violations).
• Businesses, firms, or organizations that transport, ship, or otherwise handle catfish harvested in Alabama public waters (they could face penalties if exporting live catfish).

Key Provisions

• New prohibition: no one may transport out of state a live catfish harvested from Alabama public waters.
• Criminal penalties: first violation is a Class B misdemeanor with at least a $1,000 fine; second and subsequent violations are Class A misdemeanors with at least a $2,000 fine.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 17, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Conservation & Natural Resources